The Buffington Island Battle

by Shane Holtzman

The fight of Buffington Island was fought in what is now called Portland, Ohio, and left 53 men dead as the memorial on the island states. It was a minor affair, a skirmish at best. The Battle of Buffington Island is the only Civil War battle fought in Ohio, making this site a prime place to visit for Civil War buffs.

As a Civil War enthusiast, the Meigs County memorial to the Buffington battle is a must see. The simple fact that Ohio is a part of Civil War history is astonishing. I had never heard of this battle, surprised me because I grew up in Ohio and have a proclivity for history.

The Battle of Buffington Island was fought by around only 14,000 men. It was miniscule compared to the Battle of Gettysburg, in which a staggering 163,000 men entered combat. However, despite the seemingly insignificant nature of the Buffington Island Battle, it is unique in that it contained three future Presidents of the US, which were James Garfield, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley. A single skirmish involving three presidents is a steep claim for any Civil War battle.

There are four acres of preserved battlefield in Portland, Ohio, which is operated by the Ohio Historical Society. The Park to preserve the Battlefield of Buffington Island contains battle monuments, an Indian burial ground, and a pair of interpretive markers. Even though the four-acre park does preserve a very specific part of the battlefield, the entire 600-acre battlefield is in danger of coming under construction. This possible construction would turn the majority of the battlefield into a cement lot, which would make the re-enactments of the battle slightly less realistic.

Every spring, people from around Athens County and around the state of Ohio gather on the narrow field, barren of trees stretching along the flood plain of the Ohio River, to re-enact the battle. It smells old. A stiff breeze blows the topsoil off the field and I wonder if that’s the same dirt from 100 years ago. The memorial contains pictures of past re-enactments, even pictures of those portraying the three Presidents. These men were the lucky ones, the pretend future Presidents. From the pictures, the men look authentic, prideful, and even maintain certain nostalgia reminiscent of the real battle.

The Buffington Island memorial is not just for Civil War aficionados, but is a place that will allow the younger and older generation to connect with history.

Historical Well of Noble County

by Brittany Perrine

Noble County is home to several significant historical sites that are easily accessible from most of southeast Ohio. One of these sites is the Thorla-McKee Well, the first oil well in North America. The well can still be seen today in its original condition and continues to give oil, gas and salt water in limited quantities.

The well is located in a small park just off SR 78, two miles east of Caldwell off exit 25. It is a peaceful, small park, no bigger than one acre, with two picnic tables shaded by towering trees. Toward the back edge of the park is the actual well, which is barely visible from the parking lot and entrance. There is also an old railroad boxcar that was donated by a local family in 1993, along with a small wooden shelter for those rainy days. A sign at the entrance of the park marks it as an official Ohio Historical Site and tells the history of the well. When Silas Thorla and Robert McKee drilled the well in 1814, they intended to find salt, but also found oil and natural gas. They cased the well with a hollow sycamore log down to the bedrock about 18 feet deep and 34 inches in diameter.

It is pretty amazing to see the drill still rigged up and the original sycamore log casing around the well. There’s just something about seeing a piece of history that is almost 200 years old and is still in the exact same condition today as it was when it was created. If you have some spare time, take the family for a scenic drive and history lesson, and check out this well in Noble County.

A Tunnel Through Time

BY Jen Karpus

Haydenville, or the “Hocking furnace”, is located in the Southern Green Township in Hocking County.

The founder, Peter Hayden, an industrialist from Columbus, arrived in 1952 to start an iron business. In 1882, his company was renamed the Haydenville Mining and Manufacturing Company, which produced brick and ceramic tile.

In 1906 it was sold to the National Fireproofing Company (NATCO).

Then in 1964 the town transitioned from a company town to a community town. It’s long run as a company town earned Haydenville the reputation as the last company town in Ohio. Today the NATCO is now a lumber yard.

Haydenville is also known for it's structural significance because many of
the buildings were created with the clay and tile products produced in the town.

The town itself is a showcase of the work done there. Most notably is the
Round House, which is a rounded house made of different sorts of bricks located
on Haydenville Road and is now a small family home.

Haydenville is famous for the Haydenville Tunnel. The century old tunnel transported manufactured materials, coal and clay from nearby mines. It was abandoned in the 1950s.

One tunnel entrance is behind the Haydenville Cemetery, which encourages ghost theorists who believe the tunnel is haunted by workers who died during its construction and possibly a young girl. According to the Ohio Exploration Society and the Central Ohio Paranormal Society, paranormal bites have been recorded.

Free to See: A Selection of Sites in Adams County

BY Melanie Barnes

While driving on the Appalachian Highway, toward the Ohio-Kentucky border, you may find yourself passing through Adams County. Resting 45 miles east of Cincinnati and 90 miles south of Columbus, Adams County offers attractions that could enhance your travel experience, or provide some afternoon entertainment. Here is a sampling of the site’s Adam county has to offer.

Clothesline of Quilts

Along the road, there is a patchwork of barns adorned with quilt square murals. The murals, known as the Clothesline of Quilts, were originally created by Donna Sue Groves in 2001 and dedicated to her mother. The murals multiplied and today there are 21 quilt squares across Adams County.





Serpent Mound

Spanning 1,370 feet and standing three feet high is the largest effigy in the world: Serpent Mound. The Serpent Mound is recognized for is its association with the summer and winter solstice. The head of the serpent is aligned to the sunset of the summer solstice, and the coils of the tail align with the winter sunset. Visitors are encouraged to walk the footpath along the serpent and visit the museum created by the Ohio Historical Society.



William Lafferty Memorial Funeral and Carriage Collection



Of course, every area has its quirky treasures, and Adams County is no exception. The William Lafferty Memorial Funeral and Carriage Collection is a museum of mortuary items housed in Ohio's longest-running funeral home. The funeral home has been in business since 1848, and today’s collection features items from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In the museum visitors can see horse-drawn and motorized hearses, caskets through the ages and tools of the mortuary trade. Many of the items were used for the Lafferty’s funeral home business.

Sistersville Ferry Shuttles On...

BY Kristen Rapin

The historical Sistersville Ferry shuttles users across a scenic stretch of the Ohio River.

The Sistersville Ferry has been continuously carrying passengers between Fly, OH, and Sistersville, W.V. since 1815, making it the longest operating mode of transportation for Monroe County. The ferry crosses at the apex of the 20-mile “Long Reach,” which is the longest stretch of the Ohio River.

The oldest of four ferries located on the Ohio River, the Sistersville Ferry is also the only ferry that operates along the 277-mile border between Ohio and West Virginia.

The ferry is not only an attraction for tourist but serves locals as well. The Sistersville Ferry daily charters almost 100 cars across the Ohio River. Most passengers are locals commuting between Ohio and West Virginia. Without the use of the ferry many people would have to travel out of their way to work since the nearest bridge, St. Mary’s Bridge, 20 minutes away.

Ferry passengers bypass the bridge, and opt for a leisurely five-minute commute to the opposite bank. This slower mode of transportation allows passengers time to observe the river and its surroundings.

In 1999 the first new boat and barge were put into operation doubling the ferry’s capacity to a tractor-trailer or 8 cars. Prior to 1999 the boat and barge were always used.

The Ohio River creates such openness that on clear day you can see Beaverton, OH, seven miles south, and Sardis, OH, five miles to the north.

Since its founding, the ferry has only officially been closed twice for reasons other then weather -during the Civil War and from 1987-1989. In 1980 the City of Sistersville purchased the ferry, which had been privately owned.

Normal business hours are 6 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Each car cost $3 to cross the river. Currently the ferry is not operating due to winter weather but will resume normal hours at the end of March or early April.

Touring the Trans Allegheny

BY Caroline Melia
PHOTOS BY Andrew Spear

The Trans Allegheny Bookstore of Parkersburg, West Virginia, is well known for its historical structure and for its wide variety of used books. The building was originally built in 1905 as the Parkersburg Carnegie Public Library with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. Customers come to the store for the historical atmosphere. The photographs featured below are a glimpse of the beauty and antiquity of the century-old halls.

Then and Now: Shawnee, a Preserved "Black Diamond"

BY: Danielle Nowicki
MULTIMEDIA BY: Robert Bundy

Shawnee, nestled precariously beside a hill in southern Perry County, is barely visible from state Route 93. A product of the Industrial Revolution’s coal mining boom and decline, it rests preserved in its original state. It’s a residential museum where, if only the walls could talk, visitors can hear the stories of struggling migrants and coal mining moguls. It was a town built on the hope and the promising future of “black diamonds.”Now it is a town struggling to survive and tell its story to the passerby. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Hocking Valley was booming with migrants looking for work in coal mines. The Industrial Revolution was in full-swing and coal was in demand. Shawnee was among the dozens of mining towns to spring up in this time period. Unlike most coal boom towns of the period, Shawnee has remained a well-preserved semi-ghost town.

Laid out and plated in Salt Lick Township by T.J. Davis of Newark in 1872. With only 156 lots and less than 1,500 people at its beginning, Shawnee’s population grew to nearly 3,000 in the early 1900s.

Three railroads ran through Shawnee: Newark, Somerset and New Straitsville line, later named the B&O Railroad. (Yes, the same from Monopoly.) Four brick plants were erected due to the abundance of clay in the region, in addition to the coal. However, like many small industrial towns, the area was eventually depleted of its resources, and its economic stability was wiped out. With the work gone, so went the labor force. Shawnee has since been in a state of purgatory; unable to regain momentum yet refusing to turn to dust. The town now has 608 residents, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

The Shawnee branch of the Perry County Public Library is located on the first floor of one of the town’s original opera houses. The building was in bad shape but has been saved due to the efforts of the community.

Main Street, which was placed on the National Historic Register in 1976, is characterized by its numerous awnings and balconies that line the road. Another historic opera house is still there. Built in 1881 as a meeting hall for the Knights of Labor Union, later the Knights of Pythias Hall, it is also one of the tallest buildings in Perry County.

A Shawnee Coal Mine Museum was recently opened by Jack Shuttleworth. Shuttleworth is willing to demonstrate and explain mining techniques and discuss the region’s history.

Another component essential to the preservation of historic Shawnee is the Hannah family. The Hannah Brothers Furniture and Appliance Store opened in 1928. As properties surrounding the store on East Main Street became vacant. The Hannahs bought them to expand their store. Because of their continued interest in Shawnee, the family has saved numerous buildings.

Other signs of life are apparent in the post office, restaurant and bar that continue to operate in town. With the help of people like Geoff Schenkel, who worked with kids in the community to paint a mural, and the“Little Cities of Black Diamonds”, who work to promote the history of the region and revitalize the towns, Shawnee is sure to stay on the map.

USS Shenandoah: The Premature End of an Aircraft

BY Jessica Meadows

Nestled in the corner of Noble County, among the trees and narrow winding roads, sits a historical crash site and museum for aircraft USS Shenandoah.

The Shenandoah’s history thickens the air. It’s as if the ruins are resting beneath the snow in the mangled mass of aluminum that ended the lives of 14 men.

The Shenandoah was the first of several ships of its kind that took the United States Navy to new heights. The 680-foot aircraft was used as a scouting vessel for the submarines and ships that traveled the ocean following World War I.

The Shenandoah crashed on the stormy morning Sept. 3, 1925. The Shenandoah descended from the heavens in three parts. One section landed on property that would eventually be owned by husband and wife, Bryan and Theresa Rayner. When the crash occurred, Bryan’s grandfather owned the land. He and other men helped rescue survivors.

The huge helium tanks that inflated the ship were both responsible for the breakup of the wreckage and for the saved lives of all but 14 crew members. Although the storm ultimately destroyed the ship, the helium allowed parts of the ship to stay in the air. Many of the survivors were located in these parts of the Shenandoah that remained afloat, brought only to the ground by groups of men, including Bryan’s grandfather, who tied it down.

The historical evidence is housed in a mobile-home museum, which is maintained by Bryan and Theresa Rayner.

The museum displays include: photographs of the hundreds of people in their Model T’s who traveled to the crash site to see the wreckage, time lines of the ship’s life and death, a National Geographic form 1923 with a detailed tour of the Shenandoah and many other trinkets from the 1900s.

The Rayners volunteer their time in the community to teach children and others about the Shenandoah and its importance.